Oil-gas apparatus



Dec. 2s 1926. 1,612,690 Y i. zwlcKY.k

vom GAS APPARATUS Filed Dee. 21, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 2 MfS/hey.

J. ZWICKY OIL GAS APPARATUS Dec. 28 1926.

Filed Dec; 21 4 sheets-sheet 44 wil/1555515511441 55 cylinder similarly;

Patented Dec- '28, 1972@ UNITED STATES .man zwrcxY, or aannam nevar., msnm.

ort-Gas ArraaArUs.

Application filed December 21, 18,25, erial No.

This invention relates" broadly to apparatus for producing gas-from liquid or powdered fuel by spraying and -partially burning the fuel in air, the heat th reby engendered converting or the bulk thereof into the form of combustible gas which is delivered from the apparatus for use in heating, in internal combustion engines, and other purposes. One

form of apparatus -of the type in question is thatdisclosed, for example, in the British patent .to Hackford, No. 217,613.

The purpose of the invention is to rovide forthe adequate preheating of the nel, for the proper and automatic regulation of the proportion of fuel to air, for the convenient starting of the ap aratus and for easy accessibility of parts likely to need attention. The means by whichy these purposes are attained may be explained by reference to a construction of apparatus Aein'- bodying the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and are defined lin the appended claims.

In these drawings- Figurel is allon itudinal vertical section of an apparatusdeslgned for generating gas from oil.

gig'ure 2 is an elevation of the left-hand Figure' is a central horizontal section through the housing that contains the partial-gasification means.

Figures 4 and 5 are. tions o t modified gasication means designed for use with coal or oil, or coal and o1 v an additional control device that may be employed with the apparatus. i

j Fi re 7 isa vertical section through the housing of Fig. 1. Y,

Figure l8 is a view similar to,Fig. 3, but showing the pilot jet in lighting position.

This ligure also shows the tank for sup lying oil to the pilot jet, thoughsuch tan'is actually located above the' plane of the section. rlhe chamber wherein the partial combustion of the fuel and the. production ofthe gas take .place .is conveniently in the form of a horizontal metal cylinder 1, with a thick lining2 of refractory material, and with an outlet 3 in any 'desired position aroundithe lined.'l 'At one end the oil amber is closed by a metal gas generating c the remainder of the fuel axial 'sectnmal eleva- Figure 6 is an enlarged vertlcal' section of' 76,871, and in creataritm member 19,' 1924.

door 4 carrying a refractory block 5 of truncated conical form which tits the coned end of the refractory linin 2. The block 5 is attached to the door 4 y means of a plate of metal 6 embedded in the block and bolt- The door is hinged upon ed tothe door. the chamber 1 to o en in any desired direction, and is held c osed by -any convenient means shown as a number of catches 7 engaging hooks on the chamber. Asbestos tapeor a corrugated metalrin 8 ensures a gas-tight joint between the oor and the gasiying chamber. The chamber is further surrounded by asbestosv or other laging 9 enclosed within a planished steel casing 10 secured by bands not shown.

The airl and oil supply, together with the meanslfor preheating t e air and oil, and

for regulating their admission, and also the means for initially heating the oil and vvair to `start the process, are located at the other end of'the chamber 1 in a boxor housing 11 bolted to a flan upon the chamber. An annular oil pre eatingchamber 12 is secured in the housing and divides its central portion 15. The annular air conduit 14 has a iue 16A leading to the outerf air, and this can be closed by a valve 17. Air is conduit under 'pressure by any suitable 'fan'l forming the air inlet 13 from its outer portion forming the annular air con-l supplied to the or blower indicated diagrammatically and.

on asmaller `scale at l69 through a heat exchanger'18 which is an annular passage encircling the gasoutlet 3, said passage 18 having an inlet at 19. In the air conduit 14 there is also a change-over valve 2O (FigureA '2) which in one position cuts off the conduit from its connection to the heat exand in yanother position forms a across the conduit. Beside thisis lator -21 by which the opening changer, partitlon an air re 'between t e heat exchanger and the air conduit may be regulated as desired. vMeans are provided for initially heating the air conduit 14 and'oil preheating chamber 12.

Where steam or hot water is available, s'uitl able pi s and control cocks for the convey ance o for this purpose; 1n other cases means are provided for introducing fuel into the-air for the purpose conduit 14 and burning it The construction olf starting the apparatus.

these heating -uids may be provided.

illustrated is designed to use paraliin as a starting fuel, and for this purpose the air conduit 14 is provided with an air door 22 and a fuel tray 23 with a filling opening 24 through which the parain may be introduced.

The fuel jet 25, provided with a renewable nipple 26 and with fixed and movable detlectors 27, 28, for the guidance of the air, is attached to a cover plate 29 which closes a central opening in the outer wall of the air channel which connects the conduit 14 to the air inlet 13. This plate is secured in position by a cross bar 30 hinging on the stud 31 and clamped by a nut 32. In a central bore in the cover plate there slides the oil control valve 33, the stem of which has a number of annular grooves in it to hinder leakage of oil along it. The valve seating is at the inner end of the jet 25. The control valve 33 is connected with the air valve 15 through a lever 73 pivoted on the stud 31. Oil reaches the valve and jet from the oil preheating chamber 12 through a passagey formed partly in a detachable cross connection 34 (Figure 3). ln-another part of this passage is the' spring-pressed oil cutoi' valve 35, the stem of which extends to the wall of the cross connection 34,*so that when the cross connection is secured in position the valve ,is pressed o its 'seating against the action of its spring. The oil supply pipe and main oil valve are shown atv 36 and 37' (Figure 2), and a drain cock for the oil preheating chamber at 38. Any oil which may escape from the lpassage to the jet 25 is collected at 39 (Figure 1) and led by pipe 40' to a drain cone 41 where its passage can be observed. Another pipe 42 closed by a cock 43 enables oil which may collect in the air inlet 13 to be drained into the cone 41. A third pipe 44 leadin to the drain conefcarries oil which may t(leak past or may be run out through the drain cock 38. j p

At 45 .is a small paraffin tank from which l oil is led by a-pipe 45 to an adjustable pilot jet 46,- which 'may be moved inward into the` position represented in Fig. 8, where it may be ignited y by a torch introduced through the passage 47 which normally is closed by the plate 48. This is not essential;

the apparatus may be started by lilling the 7 oil preheating chamber 12- With paralin and burning it at the fuel jet 25. A thermometer 49 shows the temperature ofthe oil andl a gauge 50 shows the air pressure.

The-apparatus, which operates in a manner broadly similar to that described in the previously mentioned British Patent No. 217,613, is started as' follows. Bylopening the main oil valve 37 the annularoil preheating chamber 12 i filled, and .the oil valve is`then temporar` y closed. The valve 17 is opened andthe valve 20 is set in the started, the valve 17 and door 22 are closed,

the valve 20 is placed in the openposition shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 2, and the valve 21 Aopened to the required extent. Parafn is supplied to the pilot jet 46 from the tank 45 and ignited byv a torch through passage 47. The main oil valve 37 is again slowly opened. The air passing from the annular chamber 14 to the inlet 13, and which enters the former under pressure, due to the provision of the fan or blower 69, swings open the valve 15 and thereby opens to a greater or less extent the oil control valve 33. The issuing oil is lit bv the pilot jet to effect partial combustion and gas pro# duction begins. When the oil is being satistactorily atomized the pilot jet 46 and the movable deflector 28 are withdrawn from the position shown by Figure 8 to that shown by Figure 3 and the supply of parailin is cut dit. In this latter position the deiector 28 is continuous with the fixed stream line deflector 27 ,lwhich may in some cases be dispensed with, while when thrust forward for starting or during times of light load, it diminishes the inlet area, thus in- .creasing theveloeity of the air andassisting atomization. v

If it is required to withdraw the oil valve forexamination the nut 32 is. slackened, the cross bar 30 swung aside andthe cross connection 34 removed. Tlie plate 29 carrying the oil .valve 33 and the jet 25 can then be withdrawn. Escape of oil is prevented by the automatic closing of valve 35. To adapt the apparatus foroperation on diierent classes of oil fuel, means may be upon the stem 33 a sleeve 70I in which slides the block -71 with which the leverl 73 engages, said block being pressed towards the 'stein 33 by'a spring 72. A portion of the member 1 projects beyond the sleeve 7 0 and has pivoted uponit acam 74 which may consist of two polygonal plates located one on each side of said member 71 and connected; together bythe pivot. In the projecting 'portion of the member 71 is a lateral spring-pressed pin 75 which engages in one or other of a series of recesses 76 in one of the plates 74. By means of the handle 77 the cam. may be rotated to 'cause the' pin 75 to engage'in any one ofthe recesses 76 and to hold the cam with anyone of its faces eexcept that to which the handle is fasten Presented to of the air valve 15. A suitable means' Athe sleeve 70. By such movement yof the cam the position of the valve 33 correspond- Y ed by the provision which maybe used to prevent any undue rise and air valve vgiven setting 0f the lever 73 15 may be altered. The cam may bear indications showing vthe setting suitable for the several classes of oil the use of which is contemplated. If this adjustment is not required the end of lever 73 may engagefina recess in the end of stem 33 such as is indicated at 7 8 in Figure 3. l

The apparatus may be used for making gas not only from any kind of. oil, whether crude oil, topped oil, or oil residue, but also from solid fuel such as powdered coal, the burner being modified to suit the fuel; and one 'and the same apparatus may be ada-ptof suitable burners for' dealing with either oil or coal, or both together. Figure 4 shows the box or housing of such a generator. The o il jet 51, which may be constructed and connected in the manner already described, is surrounded by a coal jet 52, to which the powdered coal may be forwarded by a screwor preferably ing with any by an air blast, which may be'diverted'for the 'purpose from the main air supply or delivered by a. separate blower to the pipe 53. There may be a non-return valve in the pipe 53 as a precaution against' back firing, and the proportion of air used to forward the f uel Ashould be too small to formV an explosive mixture. In the jet 52 the coal isl given a whirling motion by a.

helical n 54 upon the oil jet 51. The supply of coal is automatically controlled by a. valve 55 connected like the oil valve 56 with the main air valve 57 On its way to the valve 55 the coal may be passed through a preheating chamber such as 18 or 14 #(Fig. 1).

In case only one kind of fuelis to be employed, 'either the valve 55 0r the valve 56 may be disconnected from the valve 57; or if the producer is intended to' operate 0nco'al lonly the oil valve 5l may be,.omitted, and the n 54 secured upon a central stem.

i Where two` fuel burners .are 4employed it l1s not necessary that they should be concentric; the'y may be entirelyseparate as indicatedin Figure 5. In this case the coal jet .58 has an interiorl helical fin 59.' The oil jetA 79-may beconstructed substantially as described with' reference to Figure 1- the oil passing to it from supplyvpipe 8O through valve 81, preheating chamber 12 and .valve An vauxiliary automatic; meansof controll of pressure either within the producer or 'in the distribution system-is shown in Figure 6. It is built u on a pipe branch 60 adapted to be inserte in the pipe by whichv air is supplied from the blower'- 69 to the producer; the air supplied by the blower enters branch'() at 61, andthe air passing to the.

-lets 90,- through which, when the -for supplying heated-air tothe air 1pgssage to preheat the fuel in the fuel ,chanirand producer leaves at 62. The control device comprises a valve 63 having a seat l1n a pipe section 64 having a plurality of lateral outvalve is lifted, lthe pressure air can escape. The valve is held upon its seat by its own weight and by the weight of a piston 65 and piston rod 66 resting upon it. The piston 65 moves in a cylinder 67 which is connected by a small bore pipe 68 with the outlet side of the producer; the connection may be made to -the immediate outlet of the producer, that is to say, between the producer andthe filter commonl employed for cleaning the gas', or it may e made to any desired point of the distribution system. If desired two or more such devices as that shown in be employed, the air Supply to passing through all 0f them, spective pipes 68 being connected to differthe producer ent points 1n the gas mains and distribution system.

`The Weight of the valve 63 and of the piston 65 and piston rod 66is sullicient to prevent the valvebeing lifted by the normal pressure of the air, that'is to say by the pressure normally required to propel the and their re- Figure 6 may l air through the producer, filter, and .dis.

tribution system, acting uponl the valve itself, and the pressure in the distribution system or en'the outlet side of the producer 'acting on the underside ofthe piston 65.

But if through choking of the filter, throughlturning otfvof taps in the distribution system, or for other reasons, the pressure at lun the point to which the pipe 68 is connected should rise, the piston 65 will be lifted, freeand consequently air will in part escape 4ing the valve 63 which in turn will be raised by the pressure ofthe air supply beneath,

through 'the lateral outlets 90 instead of passing to the producer.

v`Where the ,power required to supply, the necessary air under pressure is of importance, -and Vthe blower can conveniently controlled, as when itis driven by an electric motor, movement of the piston 65 may be utilized to govern 'the motorA so as to lessen the supply of air when the demand on the producer is small. .l

. 1. In a partial-combilstionoilegasproducing apparatus, an air passage; arllquid fuel jet surrounded byV said passage; a'n annularl liquid fuel chamber encircling the air passage; apassage berto the jet for feeding liquidf'fuel to said jet to be ignited at the mouth thereof; 1 neans ,and .valve means for controlling theA air supply and' the fuel feed.

In a partial-combustion oil-gas-produei* leading from thefuelchaming apparatus, an air passage; a liquid fuel {'et surrounded by said passage; an annular iquid fuel chamber encircling the air passage; a passage leading from the fuel chamber to the jet for feeding liquid fuel to said jet to be ignited at the mouth thereof; means for supplying heated air to the air assage to preheat the fuel in the fuel cham er and vaporizeV the fuel in the jet and to support partial combustion of the fuel vapors; separate valves for controlling the air supply and the fuel feed; and means for automatically transmitting the movements of the air valve to the fuel valve so as to obtain a proportionate feed of air and fuel.

3. ln a partial-combustion oil-gas-producing apparatus, an air passage; a liquid fuel jet surrounded byvsaid passage; an annular liquid fuel chamber encircling the air passage; a passage leading from the fuel chamber to the jet for feeding liquid fuel to said jet to be ignited at the mouth thereof; means for initially preheating the air passage and the fuel chamber so as to vaporize the fuel bustion of the fuel vapors in startin in the jet and to support partial combustion of the fuel vapors in starting the apparatus; means for thereafter supplying heated air continuously to the air passage to maintain such vaporization and partial combustion; and valve means for' controlling the air supply and the fuel feed. 4

4. In a partial-combustion oil-gas-producing apparatus, an air passage; a liquid fuel jet surrounded by said passage; an annular liquid fuel chamber encircling the air passage; a passage leading from the fuel chamlzer to the jet for feeding liquid fuel to said jette beignited at the mouth thereof; an annular air conduit encircling the fuel chamber and provided with an inlet; a heater in said conduit adjacent its inlet to heat the air entering therethrough; means for conducting the heated air from the conduit to the air passage so as to vaporize the fuel in the jet and to support partial comthe apparatus; means for thereafter supp ying heatedpair continuously to the air passage to maintain such vaporization and partial combustion; and valve means for controlling the air supply and the fuel feed.

5. In a partial-combustion oil-gas-producing apparatus, an air passage; an annular liquid fuel chamber encircling the same; a Y liquid fuel jet surrounded by the air passage; a passage leading from the fuel chamber to the jet to feed liquid fuel to said jet to be ignited at Ithe mouth thereof; means for supplying heated air to the air passage to heat both the fuel chamber and the jet and vaporize the fuel in the latter and to support partial combustion of the fuel vapors; separate valves for controlling the air supply and the fuel feed; means for automatically transmitting the movements of the air valve to the fuel valve to obtain a proportionate feed of air and fuel; and means for adjusting the position of the fuel valve for any given position of the air valve.

6. In a partial-combustion oil-gas-producfuel chamber to Vthe'jet and including a detachable section; means for supplying heated air to the air passage to preheat the -fuel in the fuel chamber and vaporize the 4fuelin the jet and to support partial combustion of the fuel vapors; and a valve in the fuel passage which is held open by said section when the latter is in place but which is automatically closed when the section is detached so as to shut olf the feed to the Jet.

7. In a partial-combustion oil-gas-producing apparatus, a liquid fuel jet; an air passage surrounding the jet; a chamber forthe liquid fuel surrounding the air passage and connectedV to said jet; an annular air conduit encirclingsaid fuel chamber and leading to said passage; and means'for supplying liquid fuel and air to the fuel chamber and air passage respectively.

8. In a partial-combustion oil-gas-producing apparatus, a housing; a li uid fuel jet, an air passage,a liquid fuel c amber,and an air conduit leading to said passage, said elements being arranged successively in concentric relation to one another in said housing; and a door in said air conduit for the introduction of fuel to be ignited inside the conduit to initially preheat the liquid fuel in the fuel chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

i JEAN ZWICKY. 

